Track-sanding apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 30,1903.

J. c. vf IooPBB.. TRAGKSANDING'APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 18, 1903.

N MODEL.

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.w c. ya@ j Vvaama NITED STATES i 'Patented June 3o, 1903;

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN o. HOOPER, OE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AssIGNOR To ECONOMY LocOMoTIvE SANDER COMPANY, OE BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

TRACK-SANDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 732,636, dated June 30, 1903.

Application filed February 18, 1903. Serial No. 143,908. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, JOHN C. HOOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track- Sanding Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to track-sanding apparatus, particularly of that class in which the sand is discharged to the track by iiuidpressure controlled by the engineer in the locomotive-cab. In apparatus of this character i t sometimes becomes necessary todisconnect and withdraw the sand-discharge tube fromits opening in the sand-box for sundry purposes, such as repair, while the sand-box contains its full quota of sand, thereby leaving said opening in the sand-box open and allowing the sand to flow freely out and be wasted, and it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a track-sanding apparatus which will automatically close the opening in the sand-box when the sand-discharge tube is withdrawn therefrom, thereby preventing any sand from being wasted and also preventing rain or moisture from entering said opening to so dampen the sand that it will not iiow freely tothe track-rails.

The invention consists of certain constructions, arr-angements, and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whichyFigure l is a horizontal section of a locomotive sand-box, showing in plan View my improved` sanding apparatus arranged as a single sander-that is, designed to apply sand to the track-rails only in front of the locomotive driving-wheels. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of one of the sanders on an enlarged scale and illustrating the same with the parts in operative position. Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the sand-discharge tube in the act of being withdrawn, the parts being then in an inoperative position and the discharge-opening of the sandbox being closed to prevent the leakage of sand therefrom. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line t 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates a locomotive sand-box providedat opposite points with openings, in each of which is secured a casing B in the form of an openended tube, the said casing being provided at one end with ears b, which are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the sand-box wall at the said opening, and the casing extends in this instance inwardly from said opening, as illustrated in the drawings. The casing B is provided with two in-teriorlythreaded portions, one of which (designated b) is located at the outer end of the casing, and the other of which (designated b2) is of greater length or longitudinal area than the threaded portion b' and is located near the inner end of the casi-ng. The casing B is also provided at its extreme inner end beyond the longer threaded portion b2 with an interior enlargement, forming an inwardly-facingshoulder b3.

Within the inner end of the casing B is a hollow plug D, exteriorlythreaded, as at d, to engage the longer threaded portion b2 of the casing, so that it may be screwed completely in the casing, as illustrated in` Fig. 3, or partially out of the same, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and said plug is in this instance provided wiih a shoulder d', adapted to abut against the casing-shoulder .h3 to limit its inward movement. The said plug D is also provided with any desired number of radial ports cl2, designed to establish communication between the interior of the sand-box and a sand-chamber cl3, which in turn opens outwardly, as illustrated. The sand-chamber is rectangularor non-circular in cross-sectional contour for a purpose presently described. A tubular extension d4 is formed on the end wall of the plug D and is arranged to snugly fit over the end of a stationary branch duidpressure pipe e', leading from a main fluidpressure pipe e, as shown in Fig. 1, and a Huid-pressure nozzle f is secured at the base of said tubular extension d4 and preferably projects a short distance into the sand-chamber cl3.

The sand-discharge tube G of the appara-` tus is on its exterior of non-circular or rectangular form in cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 4:, and is intended to fit in the correspondingly-shaped sand-chamber cl3. It is provided with an eXteriorly-threaded head g, intended to screw into the outermost screwthreaded portion b of the casing, and with an interiorly-beveled inner end g2, and the said tube is also provided with anipple g', to which the pipe 7i for conveying the sand to the track-rails may be coupled.

The sand-discharge tube G, or, more speciically, that portion thereof between the threaded head g and the innerend of the said tube, is of such length that its inner end will enter the end of the sand-chamber d3 before the threaded head engages the interiorlythreaded outermost end of the casing for a purpose that will now be set forth in the description of the operation or practical use of the apparat-us.

For the purposes of description let it be considered that the parts have been adjusted to the operative position (illustrated in Fig. 2) by a manipulation subsequently described and that the sand-box A contains sand. Now when it is desired to apply sand to the trackrails the engineer by opening a valve in the locomotive-cab will inject iiuid under pressure (either air or steam) into the sand-chamber through the nozzle f, and the fluid-pressure will thus suck the sand through the ports cl2 (which are exposed to the interior of the sand-box) and drive the sand out through the discharge-tube G, whence it will be conveyed by the pipe 7L down to the track-rails. It is to be understood that the sand will by gravity flow into the sand-chamber d3, as well as being sucked therein by the duid-pressure blast; but the latter in its action insures that the sand will fiow into the sand-chamber so long as the blast continues and the supply of sand holds out. Now should there be any necessity for the withdrawal of the sand-discharge tube G from the sand-box the said tube may he readily unscrewed from the casing B, and, as is evident, the act of unscrewing said tube will in turn draw the plugD into the end of the casing until the parts shall have been covered by the casing-walls and the plug have reached the limit of its inward movement, as illustrated in Fig. 3, before which time, however, the threaded engagement of the tube andthe casing will have been broken, as also illustrated in said Fig. 3, andthe tube may be drawn or slipped by a straightaway pull out of engagement with the plug. The passages for the sand are now all closed to the interior of the sand-box and no sand can leak out from the latter and be wasted. To again secure the sand-discharge tube in place, the same is inserted with a direct longitudinal movement into the end of the plug D until the threads of the head g and of the casing catch, whereupon the tube is screwed into the casing and in so doing turns the plug l) so that it will protrude from the casing and expose theports d2 to the interior of the sandbox ready for operation. The inner end of the sand-discharge tube is beveled, as before mentioned, so that if any sand should remain in the sand-chamber after the plug has been drawn into the casing it will be scraped up by the comparatively sharp edge caused by such bevel and will pass into the dischargetube, thereby not preventing the insertion of the said tube into the plug to the proper extent.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a track-sanding apparatus having means by which the act of disconnecting the sand-discharge tube from its casing automatically closes the sand-box, so that the sand is prevented from leaking therefrom.

While the accompanying drawings show the apparatus arranged as a single sander,

it is to be understood that the invention is Sanders, and it is also to be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a track-sanding apparatus, the combination with a sand-box provided with a sand-discharge opening, of a sand-discharge tube arranged for connection to said box; means whereby the withdrawal of said tube from the sand-box will effect the closing of said discharge-opening; and means for discharging sand through said tube.

2. In a track-sanding apparatus, the combination with a sand-box provided with a sand-discharge opening, of a casing in said opening; a sand-discharge tube arranged for detachable connection with said casing; means whereby the withdrawal of said tube from the sand-casing will eiiiect the closing of said casing to the passage of sand; and a fluid-pressure device for discharging sand through said tube.

3. A track-sander, comprising a casing arranged to be connected to a sand-box; a plug arranged to open and close said casing to the passage of sand a sand-discharge tube having means for detachable connection to said casing; means whereby the attachment of said tube to said casing, and the detachment of said tube from said casing,will actuate said plug to respectively open and close said casing; `and means for discharging sand through said tube.

4. A track-sander comprisinga tubular casing arranged to be secured at the dischargeopening of a sand-box; a plug movable longitudinally in one end of said casing and provided with ports that are covered or uncovered according to the position of the plug with respect to the casing; and means for moving said plug, for the purpose set forth.

5. A track-sander, comprising a casing adapted to be connected to a sand-box; means IOO IIO

for opening and closing said casingto the passage of sand; a .sand-discharge tube arranged for insertion in said casing; and means whereby the insertion of said tube in, and its withdrawal from, said casing, will actuate the said opening and closing meansforthe casing.

6. A track-sander, comprising a tubular casing arranged to be secured at the dischargeopening ofasand-box; ahollow plug arranged to be moved into and out of said casing and provided with sand-ports so locatedthat they will berespectively covered and uncovered according to the position of the plug with respect to the casing; a sand-discharge tube j arranged for detachable connection with said plug and adapted to actuate the same; and a duid-pressure nozzle for injecting a blast through said tube, as set forth.

7. Atrack-sander,comprisingatubular casing arranged to be secured at the dischargeopening of a sand-box; a plugmovable into and out of said casing and provided with ports lthat are covered or uncovered according to the position of the plug with respect to the casing and said plug also provided with a tubular extension and a Huid-pressure nozzle in said extension; a fluid-pressure pipe received in said extension; and means for moving said plug.

8. A track-sanding apparatus, comprising a casing; a hollow plug having a screwthreaded engagement with said casing and provided with ports; a sand-discharge tube arranged for screw-threaded engagement with said easing and also arranged for connection with said plug to actuate the same; and a fluid-pressure nozzle for injecting air and of such length that it will engage and lactuate said plug, for the purpose described.

l0. A track-sander, comprising a tubular casing; a hollow plug rectangular on its interior and arranged to be moved into and out of one end of said casing and provided with ports; and a sand-discharge tube shaped correspondingly to the interior of said plug and adapted for insertion therein to actuate the same, as set forth. A

11. A track-sander, comprising a tubular casing; a hollow plug rectangular on its interior and arranged to be moved into andv out of one end of said casing and provided .with ports; and a sand-discharge tube shaped correspondingly to the interior of said plug and adapted for insertion therein to actuate the same, the inner end of said tube being interiorly beveled, as and for the purpose set forth.

, In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. HOOPER.

Witnesses:

JNO. S. BRIDGES, FREDERICK S. STITT.

, with the shorter one of said threaded portions i 

